December 10, 2022 (View All Issues)
PCS5 Trial: 5 Weeks of Radiation Therapy May Be Equivalent to 8 Weeks in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
According to the results of the phase III randomized Prostate Cancer Study 5 (PCS5), a noninferior trial, 5 weeks of radiation therapy may be equivalent to 8 weeks for men with high-risk prostate cancer on androgen-deprivation therapy. These findings were presented at the 2022 American Society for...
How the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium Aims to Advance Survival Rates in This Deadly Disease
The statistics are grim: Worldwide, pancreatic cancer is the 12th most common cancer and the seventh leading cause of cancer mortality.1 In the United States, the malignancy has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. It is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related death after...
Cancer Drugs and Price Controls: Is It Time?
According to a recent article published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, cancer care in the United States exceeded $208 billion in 2020 and is expected to surpass $240 billion by 2030.1 These estimates are driven largely by a growing and aging population. The expenditures...
NRG/RTOG 1112: Radiotherapy Added to Sorafenib Improves Survival in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) given prior to sorafenib improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and time to disease progression in patients with unresectable advanced hepatocellular cancer vs sorafenib alone, including those with macrovascular invasion, according to the...
Randomized Phase II Trial Shows Benefits of Prophylactic Radiation Therapy for Asymptomatic Bone Metastases
The use of prophylactic radiation therapy for patients with metastatic cancer who had asymptomatic, high-risk bone metastases reduced the incidence of skeletal-related events, reduced pain and the number of hospitalizations, and was associated with significantly longer overall survival compared...
Sexual Side Effects of Radiotherapy for Genitourinary Cancers: Is Physician Assessment Equitable for Women and Men?
Many radiation oncologists tend to discuss the sexual side effects of radiation therapy, specifically brachytherapy, with men more often than with women, according to a two-part study reported at the 2022 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.1 At a high-volume cancer...
ASTRO Celebrates Contributions to Radiation Oncology With 2022 Gold Medals and Other Awards
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recognized the recipients of its 2022 Gold Medal awards and other high-profile honors during an awards ceremony at the 2022 ASTRO Annual Meeting in San Antonio.
ASTRO Gold Medal
Wendell R. Lutz, PhD, and Tim R. Williams, MD, FASTRO, were awarded ...
Silicone Film Dressing May Reduce Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Some Patients With Breast Cancer
A silicone-based polyurethane film dressing (known as Mepitel® Film) appears to be beneficial in reducing skin toxicities caused by radiation treatment, according to data presented during the October 2022 ASCO Plenary Series.1
The results of a phase III trial showed that this film dressing may be...
Study Finds Use of Remote Interventions Improved Adherence to Cancer Screenings Among Women Living in Rural Areas
Remote interventions, particularly a mailed tailored DVD plus telephonic patient navigation, improved adherence to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings among women living in rural counties in the United States, according to the results of a randomized controlled clinical trial...
Patient-Reported Outcomes Study Finds Severe Symptoms in Meaningful Minority of Patients With Cancer
Routine monitoring in the real world may help to identify patients with cancer who are experiencing challenging symptoms, without significantly disrupting clinical workload, according to data presented during the 2022 ASCO Quality Care Symposium.1,2
The analysis of nearly 40,000 patient-reported...
Capturing Tumor Evolution With Serial Biopsies May Guide Treatment Changes to Benefit Patients With Breast Cancer
Molecular testing and genomic testing are now considered standard of care in breast cancer, guiding treatment decisions in early breast cancer and targeted therapies in the metastatic setting. “But tumors evolve,” Virginia Kaklamani, MD, DSc, reminded participants at the 2022 Lynn Sage Breast...
Selpercatinib Approved for Advanced RET Fusion–Positive Solid Tumors and Advanced RET Fusion–Positive NSCLC
On September 21, 2022, selpercatinib was granted accelerated approval for adults with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with RET gene fusion whose disease has progressed on or following prior systemic treatment or who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.1 On the same day,...
Phase II Trial Reports High Response Rates With Neoadjuvant Cemiplimab in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
In an international, multicenter phase II clinical trial, almost two-thirds of patients with stage II to IV cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma had tumors nearly or completely eradicated by neoadjuvant treatment with cemiplimab-rwlc, an agent targeting PD-1. The results were presented at the European ...
Addition of Neoadjuvant Nivolumab to Chemotherapy Improves Complete Pathologic Response Rate and Event-Free Survival in Resectable NSCLC
As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Patrick M. Forde, MB, BCh, of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, and colleagues, the phase III CheckMate 816 trial has shown improved pathologic complete response rate and event-free survival with the addition of nivolumab to platinum-based...
Study Finds Patritumab Deruxtecan Active in HER3-Expressing Metastatic Breast Cancer
The HER3-directed antibody-drug conjugate patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) showed activity in patients with heavily pretreated HER3-expressing metastatic breast cancer in a phase I/II study. Ian E. Krop, MD, PhD, Associate Director, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, presented these...
Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Clinical Implications of Residual Cancer Burden
An exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-522, which established the benefit of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer, has now provided data to further describe prognosis and possibly guide treatment.1 In the study, presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting,...
FDA Approves Cemiplimab-rwlc in Combination With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy for NSCLC
On November 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the PD-1 inhibitor cemiplimab-rwlc (Libtayo) in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 aberrations.
Study 16113
Efficacy was...
How Low-Dose Oral Minoxidil Is Providing Hope for Patients With Later-Stage Alopecia
Chemotherapy-induced hair loss affects 65% of patients with cancer,1 and the psychosocial impact on these patients can be profound; it may include anxiety, depression, a negative body image, lowered self-esteem, and a reduced sense of well-being.2 In some instances, the fear of hair loss from...
Futibatinib for Cholangiocarcinoma With FGFR2 Gene Fusion or Other Rearrangements
On September 30, 2022, futibatinib was granted accelerated approval for adults with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma harboring fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene fusions or other rearrangements.1
Supporting Efficacy...
Durvalumab Plus Chemotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer
On September 2, 2022, durvalumab was approved for use in combination with gemcitabine/cisplatin for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was based on findings in the double-blind TOPAZ-1 trial (NCT03875235), in...
ASCO Guideline Highlights Newest Breakthroughs in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
A new ASCO guideline on the management of advanced colorectal cancer summarizes the latest treatments supported by quality data that could expand oncologists’ armamentarium and potentially improve survival outcomes.1
“[Colorectal cancer] remains the second-leading class of cancer deaths among...
AMA House of Delegates Approves ASCO-Backed Resolutions on Fertility Preservation, American-Manufactured Personal Protective Equipment, and Third-Party Pharmacy Benefit Administrators
From November 11 to 15, delegates from ASCO participated in the 2022 Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates (HOD). The AMA HOD is the principal policy-making body of AMA and meets twice a year to discuss pressing issues and establish policies the AMA uses...
Legal and Ethical Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Interventions in Oncology
In addition to, or instead of, receiving therapies that are the standard of care, patients with cancer sometimes request to receive complementary (therapies used in conjunction with standard cancer treatment) and alternative (nonstandard treatments used in place of standard cancer treatment)...
FDA Approves Oral MEK Inhibitor Cobimetinib for Histiocytic Neoplasms
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved cobimetinib (Cotellic), an oral inhibitor of MEK1 and MEK2, for the treatment of adult patients with the family of blood diseases known as histiocytic neoplasms. These diseases include Erdheim-Chester disease, Rosai-Dorfman disease, and...
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Mirvetuximab Soravtansine-gynx for FRα-Positive, Platinum-Resistant Epithelial Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Cancer
On November 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere) for adult patients with folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who have received...
Dabrafenib in Combination With Trametinib for Unresectable or Metastatic Solid Tumors With BRAF V600E Mutation
On June 22, 2022, dabrafenib in combination with trametinib was granted accelerated approval for treatment of adult and pediatric patients (aged 6 and older) with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors with BRAF V600E mutation whose disease progressed following prior treatment and who have no...
Michael A. Caligiuri, MD, Traveled From Humble Beginnings to a Notable Career as an Oncology Leader
In this installment of The ASCO Post’s Living a Full Life series, Guest Editor Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, spoke with Michael A. Caligiuri, MD, a physician-scientist who currently serves as President of the City of Hope National Medical Center and the Deana and Steve Campbell Physician-in-Chief...
The Effect of the Reversal of Roe v Wade on Care of Pregnant Women With Cancer
The repercussions from the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24, 2022, to overturn Roe v Wade, effectively ending a nearly 50-year federal constitutional right to an abortion and allowing instead states to determine abortion access, are starting to be felt in the cancer care community. The ...
Teclistamab in the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
On October 25, 2022, the bispecific B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CD3 T-cell engager teclistamab-cqyv was granted accelerated approval for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome...
Cemiplimab/Chemotherapy Combination in Advanced NSCLC With No EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 Aberrations
On November 8, 2022, cemiplimab-rwlc was approved for use in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for first-line treatment of patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 aberrations.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was supported by findings in...
National Academy of Medicine Elects 100 New Members
The National Academy of Medicine recently announced the election of 90 regular members and 10 international members during its annual meeting. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated...
Cancer on the Global Stage: Incidence and Cancer-Related Mortality in Bolivia
The ASCO Post is pleased to continue this occasional special focus on the worldwide cancer burden. In this issue, we feature a close look at the cancer incidence and mortality rates in Bolivia. The aim of this special feature is to highlight the global cancer burden for various countries of the...
2022 Society for Integrative Oncology Annual International Conference
Guest Editor’s Note: In October, the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) held its 2022 Annual International Conference in a hybrid format (virtual and in Scottsdale, Arizona). It was centered on the basic science, education and training, and implementation of integrative oncology in diverse...
World Travel Helped Brittany L. Bychkovsky, MD, MSc, Shape Her Global Commitment to Breast Cancer Care
Breast cancer specialist Brittany L. Bychkovsky, MD, MSc, grew up primarily in Kansas; however, given that her father was a pilot, her childhood was not wholly centered in the Sunflower State. “When I was 12 years old, my mom, who was a schoolteacher, was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. Her ...
Heartbreak and a Second Chance at Love and Life
“I knew my husband was dying in June. He’d been living with a terminal diagnosis for 6 years, but suddenly his cancer turned aggressive…. The last time we saw the oncologist, he sent us home with a DNR order and told me to put it on the refrigerator, because that’s where the EMTs look,” writes...
Pregnancy Confers ‘Dual Effect’ on Breast Cancer Risk
“Pregnancy confers a dual effect” on breast cancer risk, “with an initial transient increased risk for breast cancer that is followed by long-term protection over time,” Luis Zabala Blanco, Jr, MD, noted in an update on the pathology of pregnancy-associated breast cancer, which was presented at the ...
Liquid Biopsies May Identify Patients With Cancer at Higher Risk of Developing Additional Blood Cancers
Researchers have found that liquid biopsies may be able to detect the blood disorder clonal hematopoiesis, which places patients at higher risk of developing blood cancers. The findings were presented at the 2022 European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)–National Cancer...
AKT Inhibitor Shows Signs of Activity in a Trial Matching Drugs to Tumor Gene Mutations
In a trial matching the genetic makeup of tumors with new treatments, tumors shrank in 22% of patients with cancer who received the AKT inhibitor ipatasertib. Participants included those with breast cancer and endometrial cancer as well as those with two rarer types of cancer, anal and salivary...
Experimental Drug Under Study in Liver Cancer
A new drug that inhibits an enzyme playing a crucial role in cell division and growth has shown signs of anticancer activity with manageable side effects in patients with liver cancer who have been treated unsuccessfully previously with up to three lines of treatment. These findings were presented...
I Have the BRCA2 Gene Mutation: Here’s What I’m Doing to Prevent Cancer
My father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1994, when he was just 55 years old. He died 6 years later. The cancer was so aggressive, it took only a few weeks from the time he was diagnosed for the cancer to grow to the size of a softball, and even a radical prostatectomy couldn’t save his...
Putting the Patient at the Center: The Career of Jeffery Ward, MD, FASCO
Editor’s Note: ASCO was deeply saddened by the news that Dr. Jeff Ward passed away on November 3, 2022. In an interview with Dr. Ward this past summer, published in ASCO Connection (August 30, 2022), ASCO recognized Dr. Ward’s commitment to exceptional patient care and public advocacy. An...
